We open our first formal exhibition of the year with artist Ralph Prata, who returns to Patina after a several year hiatus. The fluid lines of his carved aggregate sculptures blend Brancusi with the primitive sculptures of Mesoamerica. We are thrilled that Prata rejoins the gallery.

We begin July with an exhibition of beaded necklaces and bracelets by jewelry artist
Claire Kahn. Fairly new to the gallery, Kahn’s crocheted Miyuki bead works, often rendered in patterns borrowed from snakes, have so excited our collectors that her audience is already enormous.

Patina features an exhibition of wall sculptures from Polly Whitcomb. This will be our second exhibition with the artist, who employs found objects, like sheets of weathered wood and patinated metal foraged from local arroyos and road-sides, which she punctuates with clay elements of her own making.

Santa Fe rocks in August and so does Patina. Todd Reed and Peter Schmid, of Atelier Zobel, share their internationally sought after precious jewels in high karat gold, platinum and oxidized silver. Scheduled to coincide with Santa Fe’s world-renowned Indian Market, this exhibit featuring two, handsome young artists, one from Colorado, the other from Germany, won’t last long, just six days.

Patina will present an exhibition of works from jewelry artist Andrea Williams. Using beach stones combined with silver and high karat gold, Williams creates works of jewelry practically crafted by Nature herself. By embellishing the stones with a very light touch, she allows the stones their own voice.

Laura Foster Nicholson’s work will be familiar to many of Patina’s friends. She has been with the gallery since 1999 and continues to inspire with her intricate hand-woven tapestries. This new group of works represents a move toward more emotive imagery. Nicholson was the first textile artist to win the Leone di Pietra Award at the Venice Biennale.

DECEMBER

Bartbara Heinrich Splendiferous" December 23 - January 1

Between the year end holidays of Christmas and the New Year, Barbara Heinrich will bring even more color and sparkle to Santa Fe with her beautiful gem and 18k gold jewelry. Trained in Germany,Heinrich’s works reflect a meticulous precision and an elegant sense of scale and proportion.

Now in its twelfth year, Patina is thrilled to have such an exciting exhibition calendar to share with friends and clients. We look forward with confidence that 2011 will be one of our best!

Patina Gallery maintains one of Santa Fe’s most active commercial gallery show calendars, featuring the works of well established contemporary studio jewelers and artists working in wood, clay, metal and textiles.

Artists Ivan and Allison Barnett’s fresh curatorial aesthetic has guided Patina Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, since they created it in 1999. It is now an international destination for connoisseurs and collectors in quest of soul stirring works in contemporary studio jewelry, fiber and sculptural objects in metal, clay and wood by leading American and European artists.

Works by many Patina artists reside in the permanent collections of significant American and International museums.